Bok legend Andre Venter looked like a man on a mission when he wheeled into the lobby of the South African team hotel yesterday.
The hugely influential former enforcer, who has been using a wheelchair since being diagnosed with a degenerative syndrome of the central nervous system, was the man assigned to hand the players their jerseys ahead of today’s second Test against England.
The handing over ceremony is an opportunity to summon words of encouragement and the former flank wouldn’t have had to say much to stir Bok emotions.
If the virtues of the enduring human spirit was lost on the Boks yesterday, then Venter could at least have warned them of the perils of complacency when you’re one-nil up in a series against England.
Venter was a strapping backrow bruiser when the Springboks brought a one-nil lead here in 2000. They, however, ran into the unerring boot of Jonny Wilkinson, who mercilessly punished their wide range of indiscretions.
Eight penalties and a dropped goal carried England to a 27-22 victory and the series was shared.
That England team was a developing force and almost half that starting team would line up for the World Cup final against the Wallabies three years later.
The Springboks will be desperate to avoid the fate that befell them here on a bitterly cold June evening 18 years ago.
They won last week’s opening Test in Johannesburg but there is much room for improvement.
Captain Siya Kolisi stressed the importance of increasing the high levels of intensity they set a week ago at Ellis Park when his team orchestrated a come from behind victory.
“It’s simple for us. We need to increase our intensity and work rate. We did last week but we made a lot of mistakes. We need to keep it (intensity) up for 80 minutes. No-one travelled back from anywhere this week. We had proper week together. We need to start on a high and not drop off.
“We want to keep that intensity when the substitutes come on.”
Should the Boks keep the heat on England the visitors are likely to falter in the final quarter. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said earlier in the week that he expects the altitude to again catch England later in the game.
Whether England come out with the same commitment to attack as they did at Ellis Park remains to be seen. The Boks expected the Red Roses to apply the boot generously and were caught cold.
Either way, whether through Venter or from what they experienced in the first Test, they have been warned.
The teams are:
South Africa – Willie le Roux; S’Busiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, RG Snyman, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Akker van der Merwe, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ivan van Zyl, Jesse Kriel, Warrick Gelant
England – Elliot Daly; Jonny May, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Mike Brown; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Brad Shields, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Kyle Sinckler, Janie George, Mako Vunipola. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, Mark Wilson, Nathan Hughes, Ben Spencer, Danny Cipriani, Denny Solomona
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Kick-off: 5.05pm..